Eachine Wizard X220 Review

Getting started in the FPV Drone racing hobby can be a bit daunting if you don’t know how all the parts work, what goes well together and have little/no soldering experience. Historically the ready to fly (RTF) racers have been low quality and simply not worth the money. Could the Eachine Wizard X220 be the RTF FPV Racing Drone to change that? My review gives you all the information about this budget FPV Racing Drone. If you are interested in drone racing, but don’t have the time or ability to build your own drone, the Wizard 220 is a fantastic option! It provides you with all the features of a top end racing drone, without the associated cost. I think the Eachine Wizard is something a little special, but is it the best first FPV drone option out there? Read on to find out why I think it could be!

The Eachine Wizard X220 is available in two configurations:

I’ll start with an overview of the features, pros and cons, but if you want to understand more about what this all means and my thoughts, skip down to read my in-depth review.

Eachine Wizard X220

Eachine Wizard X220 – Features, Pros and Cons

The Eachine Wizard X220 has an incredible feature list, which almost speaks for itself.

Features

  • Motors: 2205 2300 kV
  • ESC: 20A BLHeli_s
  • Frame: Carbon Fibre “X” Frame with 4mm arms
  • Motor-to-motor: 220mm
  • Props: 5″ Tri-blade props (5040)
  • FC: SP Racing F3 (clone)
  • VTX: 200mW 48 Channel 5.8 GHz
  • Camera: 700 TVL CMOS
  • (RTF version) 1500 mAh 3S Battery and charger
  • (RTF version) FlySky I6 2.4G 6CH remote control
  • (RTF version) Flysky 2.4G 6CH FS-iA6B Receiver

Eachine Wizard X220 Camera

Pros

  • Pre-soldered FC and Matek PDB for a clean build
  • ARF version comes with cable ready to easily plug into your receiver
  • Rubber grommets protect both VTX antenna connection and power cables
  • LEDs under motors for orientation
  • Neoprene bumpers on bottom of arms
  • Protective side plates
  • Comes with spare props
  • XT-60 battery connector (vast majority of batteries now use this)
  • Durable

Cons

  • VTX has dip switches for channel selection
  • No spare parts provided
  • Motor bearings not the best
  • FC is a clone, with potential reliability issues
  • No battery voltage monitoring built in (grab a LiPo buzzer)
  • Linear antenna for VTX
  • No OSD

Eachine Wizard X220 ESC

Eachine Wizard X220 – Initial impression

The Wizard ticks all the right boxes in terms of motor size, carbon fibre “X” frame and Cleanflight/Betaflight compatibility. There is a good specification all round, having the features of a good FPV racing drone.

The included tri bladed 5″ props mean you get a locked in feel when flying, without sacrificing top speed. These are my go-to props and although there are more aggressive props out there, these still give you enough power to be able to carry a GoPro or other action cam. This is great and means that you will be able to use the Eachine Wizard to capture your racing! Overall, my first impression is that the Eachine Wizard X220 would be great for for both racing and aerial acrobatics.

Eachine Wizard X220 ARF Package

Eachine Wizard X220 – In depth analysis

This is a well thought out design and provides ease of access for repairs, whilst still offering good protection to the internal components. The carbon fibre frame with 4mm arms means that you have a solid foundation to build upon and the frame will withstand crashes reasonably well without requiring any repairs. The side plates are a nice feature and help to protect the internals without adding too much weight. When you need to open the drone up, it’s just a case of removing six screws from the top plate. Once you have to top plate off, you can also easily remove the side plates if you prefer not to use them.

The frame uses the popular “X” configuration, providing good pitch and roll control and predictable flight characteristics. I think this is particularly important for new pilots, as it makes the learning process that little bit easier. The frame configuration makes the Wizard good for tight turns in races or acrobatics if you just want a fun flight.

Motor protectors come installed as standard, but can be removed if you want to same a little bit of weight. I recommend leaving them on (I have them installed on my quads) as they reduce the chance of filling up with mud in a crash and also minimise the impact of a hard landing. In my early days of flying I had to abandon flying sessions because my motors were so full of dirt after a crash. With motor protectors installed, I’ve not had this problem in a long time and now install them on all my quads.

The Motors themselves don’t provide quite as much power as more expensive alternatives, but when buying an entire drone for the same price as some sets of motors, this is understandable! Eachine have made the Wizard easy to upgrade and repair as you improve or newer components come out. This means that if you do decide to take the plunge and swap out the stock motors with something more powerful, it’s very easy. The same goes for the other components like the ESCs, camera and VTX, which are all modular.

Eachine Wizard X220 Motor

Feedback on the stock PIDs is a bit disappointing. For an FPV Racer that is being mass-produced, I would expect the default PIDs to be spot on. Normally PIDs are considered to be specific to each drone, as any slight change in configuration could mean that changes are needed. Since each Wizard has the same setup, I would have liked to see some refinement in this area. That’s not to say the drone flies badly, just that it needs some tweaks to be perfect. My recommendation when you get the drone and have evaluated it after a first flight, is to install Betaflight. The latest releases have incredibly good stock PIDs and most people find they can leave them at stock settings.

Rubberised grommets are used to protect both the power cables and VTX antenna connection. This is a nice touch and means that the connections are secure and won’t be easily damaged in a crash. The antenna connection is particularly well designed, as it protects the VTX in a crash. With most RTF racers, the VTX is left exposed or the antenna simply pokes out of the back of the quad. On the Wizard, the antenna is secured to the frame, meaning it won’t break the connection to the VTX in a crash.

One thing that I would like to see included in the package is spares. Whilst there are some spare props, you will quickly get through these as you learn to fly. A replacement ESC, motor and battery strap would have been a good addition, particularly as they are all available from Eachine. Spares can take a long time to be delivered from China, so I recommend you get the below components with your drone:

I would include a spare arm in this list, but at the time of writing they are not available. Keep an eye here for when they are released.

Eachine Wizard X220 Bottom

Eachine Wizard X220 – Verdict

For the money this is as good (if not better) than what you can build yourself, without any of the hassle or risk! The ease of access and ability to quickly replace or upgrade components is great. The overall design is solid and proven, limiting the chances of anything other than props breaking. Whether you are a complete beginner or are looking at an upgrade from old hardware, I recommend the Eachine Wizard X220. I suggest the ARF version (from Amazon or Banggood). Pair this with the X4R-SB and FrSky Taranis Q X7 for a great, low cost package. If you need goggles to go with the Wizard, I recommend the Eachine VR D2 from Amazon or Banggood (you can check out my Eachine VR D2 review here).

 

Eachine Wizard X220 RTF Package

14 Comments

  1. Hi what size bearings do these 2205/2300kv motors run?
    I’m in need of some ASAP
    Thanks steve

    • Hi Steve, I’ve been looking all over but can’t seem to find them. If it was me, I would chance it and try the EMAX RS2205 bearings as they should be easy to get hold of. They’re also compatible with more than just that motor.

  2. Thanks for the review. I’ve been eyeing drones from afar, and this model popped on my facebook feed for 200$. I’m sold! I can’t wait to fly it!

  3. Hello,
    thank you for this wonderful review.
    I am new to the drone world. But this one looks great to begin with something nice.
    Could you tell me how far from the controller it can go?

    thank you

    • Hi Quentin,
      Yes, this is a great option for someone just starting.
      Usual laws require you to keep the drone within line of sight and this is normally accepted as within 400m. Depending on the receiver and transmitter you choose, as well as how much RF interference there is. You may be able to achieve significantly more than this, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
      James

      • Thank you James. I will try to get one asap and i’ll let you know.
        Is it easy to link the drone camera to your smartphone and then use a VR helmet?

  4. hey James I have the question for you. can u recomend me the app for the mobile to connect with this drone (btw i m totally beginner and I want to try this hobby and don t spend all my money for this vr head set for drones ) i will be so happy if u will anwer my question <3

    • Hey, unfortunately the Wizard isn’t directly compatible with phones with just an app. You can get a video receiver that plugs into your phone, but these have a reasonable amount of latency, so aren’t great for flying with. They are really just for spectating. If you search for micro USB 5.8 ghz video receiver you will find quite a few to choose from.
      James

  5. Hi can you pls tell me uf i buy the eachime x220 s can it work with goggles with the camera that is factory fitted or do i need to buy additional cammera

    • Hi Anton,

      Yes, you should be able to use the factory fitted camera and transmitter with most goggles, as long as the receiver can receive the frequency being transmitted.

  6. Yes, I am considering getting the Eachine wizzard, I want to try the extra power provided by 3 or 4 s on a drone.I currently fly Bugs 6, and Hubsan Storm H122 Storm ( Although it needs a new motor) Other drone’s as well but these are my Racers.
    Rob

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